A former senior official in the legal system referred in a conversation with "Israel Today" to the case of wiretapping in very harsh words.
He said, "The prosecution and the police knowingly concealed information from the court and acted in violation of the law. This is not an earthquake but a total collapse of systems. If until this morning I thought I was living in a democracy, now I am not at all sure."
The source explains these serious allegations: "Every serious police case has an accompanying lawyer. It is not possible that he is not in the know and does not know about such a hearing, and that she did not get the court approval as required. It is one thing to disclose partial information to the court. Without revealing the whole picture, and it is a completely different thing to do such an action without an order at all, in a way that is illegal and more by official authorities of the state - not on a one-time basis, not as a point, but as a routine policy and action. This conduct, which is suitable for dark regimes, is serious. "
Superintendent Kobi Shabtai, Photo: Michael Giladi, Ginny
The source adds: "Imagine a situation in which the State Attorney's Office and the police act with one hand and commit fraud on the part of the judges. It is unthinkable, and that is what we are talking about. That is what happened."
The source further warns that what has been revealed is probably just the tip of the iceberg, and it is possible that this is a much broader phenomenon.
"Not only did the police act illegally, they also hid it when things started to go awry. First it was reported that all the orders were given legally, then because there may have been some exceptions. "Made in the dark."
The source notes that "this phenomenon began after the entry of Commissioner Alsheikh into the organization, and it has been for many years that it occurs without any supervision and without the knowledge of the officials in charge.
"Journalists, social activists, protesters, government officials, public servants, CEOs, businessmen, protesters, and virtually anyone the police have decided are interested in."
The source was asked how much this affects Netanyahu's trial and said that "the prosecution and the police are working here together. It is inconceivable that the prosecution did not know what happened with Pilber's investigation, for example. And I do not know how to refer to the other witnesses, "It took place with a variety of figures connected to the affair. There are attorneys accompanied by the most senior ranks. There is no such thing as passing information from side to side without them knowing about things."
The source reiterates that "this is a sign of disgrace to a democratic regime. Something I did not think we would ever, in my worst dreams, reach. It is a black day for everyone who has a heart for democracy. It just hurts."
Mandelblit // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon,
The source also refers to the manner in which Spokesman Mandelblit functioned on the issue and says that "I believed that his intentions were pure, since we have known each other well and for years.
This is an honest man who wants the best for the state and the system.
"But when he put Adv. Amit Merri, who was part of the prosecution team involved in the case, at the head of the investigation committee into the matter, it looked very bad. It was as if they had decided in advance to close the story."
He added that "these are systems that are tainted by crowding lines, protecting and backing each other up, but I hoped that this would not stick to the head of the system. In my opinion, there is no escape from a state commission of inquiry. It will take a long time. "
On behalf of Roni Alshikh, it was stated:
"These are baseless statements that deny any factual basis, hiding behind unknown sources and therefore unworthy of reference. "Assimilated the value of 'restraint and proportionality' in the organization's values, launched computerized tests and occupational polygraph tests under a new law enacted to maintain the organization's norms."
The police said
that "earlier today, Commissioner General Yaakov Shabtai addressed the Minister of Internal Security and asked him to order the establishment of an external and independent review committee headed by a judge, in order to examine the issue in all its aspects." And to the extent that any irregularities or failures are found, these will be dealt with in accordance with the law. "
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